Mama and I have returned from one week in paradise–it was awesome. Pictured above is the view from the Hilton’s canopy seats overlooking the ocean, where we spent all day on Friday. As you can see, it was pretty hard to come back.

Surprisingly, when we arrived last night we found temperatures in the seventies and it was in the nineties today. That’s crazy weather for San Francisco! It’s like we took the sun from Hawaii and brought it here! Check out the rest of the pictures.

South Kohala Coast From Kohala Ranch

Hot Lava Flow, Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkThe heat from the molten lava was incredible, even from fifty feet away!

Cooled Lava Flow, Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkThe molten rock began to cool right in front of us–awesome!

Nugget, Mama, Santiago, and Belinda, Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkA bit overexposed, but not bad for a 3.2 second tripod exposure inscary I-don’t-want-to-fall-over-and-burn-my-ass conditions!

View From the Tee, 13th Hole, Kona Country Club Ocean CourseI really should practice this game–I suck!

Mama and Nugget on Boat, Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort

One of Many Pools, Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort

Private Bay, Hilton Waikoloa Village ResortMade from natural features, the bay hosts many sea turtles that feed off algaegrowing in the fountain (right of frame)–incredible.

Nugget and Mama at Private Bay, Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort

Dolphin Clearing Blowhole, Dolphin Quest Exhibit, Hilton Waikoloa Village ResortThe resort has a dolphin exhibit and allows guests to swim with them for a fee.

The following pictures were taken by Mama’s dive instructor on her open water check out dives. Thanks again to Wayne Burger, from Jack’s Diving Locker, for taking his underwater digital camera and snapping these shots.

Fish ViewThis must be what fish see as we approach them underwater–not very elegant.

Mama Entering Collapsed Lava Tube

Surgeonfish in Lava TubeThis fish is actually swimming upside down, because it thinks the roof is the ground.

Us Exiting Collapsed Lava Tube

Butterflyfish

Hawkfish on Rock

Looking at GoatfishThere were literally thousands of these fish swimming in schools there.

It’s hard to come up with words to describe our week in Hawaii. There were so many memorable events: Mama became a PADI Certified Open Water Diver; we did five dives in Hawaii, including Place of Refuge; we celebrated Santiago’s birthday, Mama’s birthday, our wedding anniversary; and we saw molten lava ooze out of the earth. We’ll never forget it!

Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to Mama. The Waikola Hilton is our favorite hotel. Our time share is on the same property, up the hill from the Hilton. Doreen and I are leaving on October 7th for 4 days in Kuaui and 7 on the Big Island. We are staying at our time share and can’t wait to go back “home” to Hawaii. We love it there and try to make it back every year. You are so close, that Hawaii is even a possibility for a long weekend. Great pics. Maybe we can meet someday over there too !!!!

#3 by Rusty — September 22, 2003 @ 2:15 am

Upside-down fish is a surgeonfish, round fish with two whitespots is a butterflyfish, fish on rock is a hawkfish, common fish with yellow stripe is a goatfish (did you see them feeding?)

I mean, you can still get a book, too, but mostly you just have to dive, dive, dive!

Happy birthday Mama! And happy anniversary!

#4 by Larry — September 22, 2003 @ 5:03 am

Thanks for the fish names, Larry. We’re still going to pick up a couple of books so that we may identify them on sight. And don’t worry, we plan to dive, dive, dive!

#5 by Nugget — September 22, 2003 @ 5:59 am

Those pictures totally rock. It looks like you guys had a great time. Welcome back! Oh and happy birthday Mama! And happy anniversary you guys!

#6 by Meerenai — September 22, 2003 @ 8:38 am

cool pics…I didn’t even know it was mama’s b-day?

#7 by sant — September 22, 2003 @ 10:57 am

Technically, Mama’s birthday is tomorrow and our anniversary is next week, but we celebrated them there.

#8 by Nugget — September 22, 2003 @ 11:10 am

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, guys!! Nugget & I celebrate three years next week! Woo Hoo!!

#9 by Mama — September 23, 2003 @ 12:45 pm

Happy Belated B’Day Mama and Happy Anniversary to both.

Great underwater Pics.

#10 by Rajiv — October 15, 2003 @ 2:05 am

Great pictures! Loved the underwater pics. We have not been to Hawaii, but after seing these pictures- I know where I am making my next trip!
Happy birthday to you Mama and a very happy anniversary in advance!
Best wishes- Sonal & Rajeev.

#11 by Sonal — October 15, 2003 @ 12:16 pm

These are great photos!! It makes you feel like you are in Hawaii too! The Lava photos, it’s really a good idea to take them at night. The under water photos, it’s like you are swimming with the fishes. I can’t wait for our trip in Dec.